Separator



Oct. 26, vw26.

, w. c. BROADWELL SEPARA'IOR Filed March 3 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 4 `/WI Patented @et 26, 1925.

UNITE@ STATES WILLIAM o. BnonDWnLL, or NEW Yoan; N. Y.

sn-asaltaron.

Application Lfiled March 3,

This invention relates to separators particularly of the ash sitter type` designed to receive ash pan or receptacle which is carried bodily in av circular path about the 5 axis ol a rotatable screen adapted to receive the ashes which are caused to travelover the surface thereofas the screen is rotated, thereby separating the unburned fuel from the ashes which are allowed to 'pass from the l machine into the usual ash receiving reoep* taele, Whereas the unbuifned fuel is deposited back into the pan uponv the 'completion or each screening or separating cycle in the 'operation of the machine.

f' in iinportantobjeot ot my invention is to pro I*ide in `a deviceV oic the character inentioned an improved and s iinplified rneans for automatically loclnng'the pan in a ixed oosition `within lthe machine at the begi ning 5" of each screening or `separating operation.

A furtherl object 'of the invention is to provide a means for retaining the pan lool@ ing n'ieans against` reverse iii-'ovenient with respect to the rotatable screen except at such Y time as the screen is maintained in its norinai position at rest.

Another object or "the invention is "to provide in combination VWith the rotatable screen a means ioriracil ting a oorrect'posiif tioning of 'the pan Within the machine to insure reliability inthe `emptying of ashes 'from the pan 4and in the depositing of reclaimed fuel thereinto.

@ther objects and `certain advantages of the 'invention will become apparent "froni the lolloiving description ivljien talren in 'connecs the accompanying drawings in Figure 'l is a iront elet/ation of :the nia- `chine embodying my invention. y

'ure 2 is a horizontal sectional view l n on line 2 2 Aol1 V`Figure l, the rotatable s reen and certain othercooperative elements being shown in elevation.

'ocied in its open position.

`ure 3 yis a vertical `sectional vi'evv italien" illustrating tthe *position of aclo'surevihen 1923. Serial No. 622,498.

ln the drawings wherein for the purpose oi illustrationis shown what l at present consider `the preferred form of my invention the nuineral 5 indicates a casing or housing Within Which the various -cooperativee'lements embodying my invention and hereinafter more particularly referred to are located. This housingis constructed from sheet metal and comprises end members 6 havinginW-ardly turned flanges 7, the lower -enids o Ithe end yineinbers' being inclined as shown most clearly in Figure l, and suitably foonnected to a base 8 whichl constitutes a coverl for the usual ash receptacle, not shown, into which the ashes are adapted to pass `r-o'nid machine. In addition to the flan-ges 7 the end members `6 are provided adjacent thereto with depressions or grooves `9 into which 1s tted asheetV metal cover i0,

`the `sheet metal coverbeing` connected` to the base `8 `and locked vin position with respect there-to by ineans 'of `-flanges ll adapted to fengagelthennder `ita-ce or side of the base adjacent a relatively large opening 12 4formfed 'therein through which the siited .lashes are adapted :to passu as above nien tioned.` "The oever and end members 6 when `assembled as shown in Figures EL, 2 and areretained .pnoperly Vpositioned in a *dust-proof Unitary structure by means fof transversely disposed tie-rods or bolts 1.3 provided .at-'opposite :ends `with nuts 14. lt Willjbe noted'thjat, from the Way in lWillich Iba-ve yconstruoted and assembled the cover 'be can ed out *expeditiously in .trie process or manufacture ln'th'e cover lO there is "out or otherwise liro'vided an o .enin 15 over which is fitted a 'folosune le. This closure is bent yto oon- 4li''or'in to lthe lcontour oi 'thecover "10 `andat 'one longitudinal edgethereot is `folded upon itself asshownat 17 to r'ovide anelongated v"opeli-ing 518 through 'ivhic ispassed a transversely -disposedjhinge :rod 19 suitablycon- 'nected 'tothe housing 5 as by 'means :et Abrachvets By reason o'ffthis 'construction the closure 216 i-s adapted to ypermit 'or a 'sliding Ant 'Withresp'ect tothe cover AVl() in to fireefthe inwardly "turned lipQl ng'o th-edevice asa Whole may (iii from engagement with the inner face of the cover adjacent the opening 15 so that it may thereafter` be swung about the hinge rod 19 as a pivot to its open position. After lifting the closure 1G to lhe dotted line positon shown in Figure B it may be so dropped or lowered that the hinge rod 19 will occupy a position within the opening 18 as shown in Figure 6. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the inwardly turned lip 21 functions to retain the closure 16 in intimate engagementwith the cover '10 when closed `and that the peculiar construction which I employ at the opposite longitudinal edge of the closure so functions in a cooperative manner with the transversely disposed hinge rod 19 as to effectively retain the closure in its open position shown in Figure 6.

To the end members 6 there is journaled a transversely disposed shaft 22 which extends throughout the length of the housing and is provided at one end with a crank 23. Upon the shaft 22 there is supported a rotatable sifter or separator unit indicated as a whole by the numeral 24. This unit is free to rotate to a certain extent with respect to the shaft 22 as will hereinafter more readily appear and comprises side members 25 provided with flanges 26 and 27. To the flange 2G there is suitably connected a base 0r bottom 28 adapted to receive thereupon the usual ash pan or receptacle 29 or one of the type shown inFigure 4 which is indicated by the numeral 30 and will be more particularly described hereinafter. The base or bottom 28 is bent at right angles to provide an abutment 30 which is spaced an appreciable distance from the flange 27 and functions as a means for enabling` one to properly position the ash pan 29 within the machine. To the side members 25 are connected a pair of converging screen supporting elements 31 provided at yspaced intervals with ears or lips 32 which are adapted to function as means for retaining a screen 33 permanent-ly attached to the converging elements 31 at their respective outer edges.

In order to locl; the ash pan 29 in position upon the base or bottom 28 to prevent the same from being displaced during the operation of the machine I provide a clamping arm 34 which is secured to the shaft 22 and adapted to rotate therewith. The shaft 22 is provided also with an auxiliary locking element in the form of a fork 35 having converging legs 36 both of which are adapted to engage the bottom of the-pan 29 simultaneously with the engagement of the arm 34 therewith. In order to prevent the pan 29 from moving laterally in a rearwardly direction I provide the arm 34 with a linger 37 which is adapted to engage one side of the pan as shownin Figure 3 and retain the same in intimate engagement with the abutment 30. It willbe appreciated therefore that with the ash pan 29 so engaged and positioned as shown in Figure 3 the same will be maintained against movement in all directions with respect to the vase or bottom 28 when the sifting or separator unit 24 is rotated.

In order to restrain, to a certain extent, movement of the separator unit so that the arm 34 and auxiliary clamping element 35 will penetrate the ashes and engage the bottom of the pan 29 before the separator' unit begins to rotate, I provide a fricion l alte indicated as a whole by thenumeral S8. This br'lre comprises a drum 89 which is fastened to one of the side members and is engaged by a friction band 40 adapted to be anchored to some stationary part of the apparatus such, for example, as one of the end members 6. The brake not only serves to restrain the separator unit against rotation at the beginning of the sifting operation but also functions as a means for preventing the separator unit from rotating with respect to the shaft 22 after the pan has been elevated to its maximum height and has started on its downward course. By such an arrangement it will be appreciated that the arm 34 and auxiliary clamping element will always be maintained in firm engagement with the bottom of the pan 29 during the rotaion of the shaft 22 regardless of the position assumed by the pan in the operation of the machine.

In the type of apparatus embodying my invention it is necessary to prevent a reverse movement of the shaft 22 during the rotation of the separator unit 24 and to accomplish this desired object I provide the shaft 22 with a ratchet 41 adapted to cooperate with a pawl 42 pivotally connected to one of the end members 6. At the completion of the sifting operation it is necessary, however, to reverse the rotation of the shaft 22 in order that the arm 34 and auxiliary clamping element 35 may be disengaged `from the bottom of the pan 29 to permit the same to be removed from the apparatus, and in order to be able to accomplish this reverse movement of the shaft 22 I have provided the separator unit 24 with a pin 43 which is adapted to engage and lift the pawl 42 free from engagement with the ratchet 41 upon the completion of a sifting operation. lilith the pawl 42 disengaged from its cooperate ratchet 41, as shown in Figure 3, the shaft 22, as will be appreciated. may be so rotated as to lift the arm 34 and auxiliary clamping element 35 from engagement with the bottom of the pan 29 thus permitting the same to be readily removed from the apparatus.

In order to temporarily maintain the separater unit 24 in its normal position shown in FigureY 3 upon the completion of the sifting operation, I have provided a spring pawl 44 suitably connected to one of the members G. This pawl is adaptedto cooperate with lugs or stops struclrup from one oi"I the side members 25, the pawl 44 being so constructed that its tree end is adapted to assume a position intermediate these lugs. lVhen the separator unit 24 is rotated in the direction ot' the arrow shown in Figure 3 the tree end ot the pawl 44 rides over the lowermost lug 45 and as the separator unit is further rotated the free end of the pawl 44 is permitted to ride over the uppermost lug 45 and assume the position shown in Figure 3. lt will be appreciated trom the construction of this temporary restraining means that the separator unit is, when being moved from its position of rest shown in Figure 3 in the direction of the arrow, temporarily restrained until such time as the pawl 44 has passed over the lowermost lug 45 whereas on the other hand the separator unit is positively prevented trom rotation in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrow in Figure 3 when the separator unit is maintained in its normal position shown in Figure 3.

lt desired the conventional type ot ash pan 29 shown in Figure 3 may be dispensed with and the specially constructed type oiQ aan 30 shown in Fie'ure 4 substituted in lieu thereof. lilith the type or" pan shown in Figure 4 it is possible to so adjust the same that when placed in the ash-pit ot a turnace all, or substantially all, of the ashes dropping' from the grate may be deposited therein after which its sides may be so retracted as to permit the same to be wit-hdrawn through the opening` ot the furnace leading into the lash-pit the width or diameter of which, in some instances, is greater than the width ot the opening or door. The particular form of pan 30 comprises a bottom 46 having end members 4? formed integral therewith, the end members being bent over at their outer ends to provide 49 within each ont which are adapted to operate. a pair of racks 50 and 5l. These racks are adapted to cooperate with pinions 52 carried at opposite ends ot a longitudi nally disposed. shaft 53 journaled in the ends 4'?, the shaft beingl provided with .a handle 54. oi the bottom 4G are hingedly connected movable side members 55 carryingat opposite ends wings 56 which are pivotally connected to the several racks 50 and 5l. It the door opening; leading; into the ash-pit too narrow to receive the pan 30 with its side members 55 extended as shown in. Figure 4, tbe sliatt 5Sina-y be so rotated as` shown in Figure 4. lVhen it becomes necesw `screen 33 and as the ashes travel o To opposite longitudinal edges sary to remove the pan from the ash-pit the side members 55 are again .retracted through the instrumentality of the shaft 53, the cooperatingr pinions 52 and raclrs 50 and 5l. The pan 30 may then be placed v-.f'ithin the apparatus and positioned similarly to the conventional form of pan 29 above mentioned.

By reason ot the fact that the converging screen supporting elements or separator unit side members 25 are arranged in a converging relation with respect to each other, it follows that the relatively large particles ot' material, which are separated from the liner particles in passing laterally over the screen 33, are brought together upon the relatively narrow end ot the screen and are thereafter deposited upon a chute 57 from which they are directed upon a completed or substantially completed revolution ot the separator unit 24 back into the recep tacle at a given distance 'from the abutment rlhis distance is such that, regardless oi'- the shape or size of the pans which might be employed, the reclaimed particles will, under all conditions, incident to the opera tion of the machine, be depositedbacl; into the' same. This constitutes a very important feature or' my invention, for the reason that by so constructingv certain elements ot the device as to accomplish this desired object, l am enabled to subject the ashes oit `eachindividual pan to the necessary separat u( operation without transferringl such ashes from one receptacle to another as would otherwise be necessary.

Regardless ot the ype of pan emplovffl the operation of the apparatus is :is lows: The shaft 22is rotated in the di' tion ot the arrow shown in Figure 3 an reasonot the tact that the separator 24 is at first restrained against rotati--. the brake 38 and pawl 44 the arm auxiliary clamping element 85 will `penetrate the ashes and engage the bo f" the pan after which the separator unit caused to rotate in the direction oit th e row shown in Figure 3. is the is tief vated its contents are deposited upf screen the liner portions are permitted pass through the mesh and escape into usual ash receptacle, not shown, through openingV 12, the larger ash particles or burned tuel beingretained upon the 33 and upon reachingv the end oi the same are deposited upon the chute wh2 secured tothe conrergin@Y side members ill. and;y to which the screen 38 is attached by means ot ears or lugs 58. rlhe larger particles or unburned tuel upon beh u posited upon the chute 5i' aredirected cern trally orsubstantially' centrally baci' the pan. 'llhis operation may be coutin for as many timesas isV deemed necessary to effect a complete separation or reclaiming of the unburned fuel from the ashes and upon the complction of the operation the shaft Q2 may be slightly rotated in a direction opposite to that indicated by thel arrow in Figure 5l, thus freeing the arm 3st and clamping clement 235 from engagement with the pan in order to permit the same to be readily removed.

In the case of certain types of stoves or furnaces it might be necessary to provide a relatively narrow pan of the type shown in Figure il, and indicated. as a whole by the numeral 30;1 which, when placed in the machine embodying my invention with its adjustable side or members 55 arranged vertically in a parallel relation, would be insufficient in width to insure collection of all of the reclaimed material as it leaves the chute 57. In such an event the width of the receptacle7 through the i1 strun'ientality of the pinions and racks 5() and 5lj may be so increased by moving the said nienibers 55 to their respective extended positions that the total width of the receptacle is such as compared with the width of the chiite 5T as to effect a depositing of all ci' the reclaimed material back into the receptacle.

I-Iaving thus described my invention I claim: i

l. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit adapted to receive an ash pan, a rotatable shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit7 pan locking means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft with respect to said unit to first lock said pan in a given position with respect to said unit and thereafter lock said shaft with respect to said unit, and means for locking said shaft against reverse movement after the same has been so moved as to effect the operation of said pan locking means.

2. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit adapted to receive an ash pan, a rotatable shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit, pan locking means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft with respect to said unit to first loch said pan in agiven position with respect to said unit and thereafter lock said shaft with respect to said unit7 means for loclring said shaft against reverse movement after the same has been so moved as to effect the operation of said pan locking means. and means for releasing the second named locking means upon completion of rotation of said shaft whereby the movement of said shaft with respect to said unit may be reversed to effect a release of said pan locking means.

3. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit adapted to receive an ash pan, an operating shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit,

vai i means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft with respect to said unit to lock said pan in a given position with respect to said unit and to lock said shaft against rotation with respect to said unit whereby said shaft and unit are caused to rotate together and said pan is caused to move in a circular path, and a brake mechanism adapted to so cooperate with said unit as to resist its rotative movement.

et. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit adapted to receive an ash pan, an operating shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit, means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft with respect to said unit to loch said shaft against rotation with respect to said unit and to lock said pan in a given position whereby said shaft and unit are caused to rotate together and said pan is caused to move in a circular path, and means adapted to cooperate with said unit to retain the same temporarily in its normal position when at rest.

5. In a device `of the character described f" said shaft with respect to said unit to lock said pan in a given position with respect to said unit and to lock said shaft against rotation with respect to said unit whereby said shaft and unit are caused to rotate together and said pan is caused to move in a circnlar path, a brake mechanism adapted to so cooperate with said unit as to resist its ro` tative movement, and means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft for locking the same against rotation in an opposite direction with respect to said unit.

6. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit having converging side walls and adapted to receive an ash pan, an abutment for facilitating` the proper positioning of said pan within said unity an operating shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit, and means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft with respect to said unit for locking said pan in a given position against said abutment and for locking said shaft against further rotation with respect to said unit whereby said shaft and unit are rotated together and said pan is caused to move in a circular path.

7. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit having converging side walls and adapted to receive an ash pan, an abutment for facilitating the proper positioning of said pan within said unit, an operating shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit, and means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft with respect to said unit for locking said pan in a given positionagainst said abutment and for atc locking said shaft against further rotation with respect to said unit `whereby said shaft and units are rotated together and said pan is caused to move in a circular path, and means for resisting the rotative movement of said unit.

in a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit having` converg ing` side Walls and adapted to receive an ash pan, an abutment for facilitatingthe proper positioning of said pan Within` said unit, an operating shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit, means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft viith re Act to said unit for locking said pan in a "en position against said'abutnient and f r locking said shaft against farther rotation with respect to said unit whereby said shaft and unit arev rotated together and said pan caused to move in circular path, means for resisting the mov-ementbf'said unit in a given d' jection, vand means, for loosing said 'shaft against rotation in an opposite direction .vith respect to1 the rotation of said unit.

ln a device of the character describec a rotatable separator unit having converging side walls and adapted 'to receive an ash pain an abutment for facilitating the proper positioning of said pan Within said unit, an operiiing shaft free to partially rotate with respect tosaid unit,`mean s operable upon partial rotation of said shaft'witllrrespect to said unit for locking said pan in a given position against said abntment and for lochin said shaft against farther rotation With pcct to said unit whereby said shaft and unit are rotated together and said pan is caused to move in a circular" path, vmeans for resisting the movement of said unitin a given direction, means for locking said shaft against rotation in an opposite. direction with respect to the rotation of said unit, and means for releasing the latter named locking means upon completion of rotation of said unit.

l0. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit having converging side walls and adapted to receive an ash pan, an abutment for facilitating the proper positioning of said pan Within said unit, .an operating shaft free to partially7 rotate with respect to said unit, means operable upon partial rotation of said shaft With respect to said unit for loc-king said pan in a given position against said abutment and for locking said shaft against further rotation With respect to said unit whereby said shaft and unit are rotated together and said pan is caused to move in a circular path, means for resisting the rotative movement of said unit, means for locking said shaft against rotation in an opposite direction with respect to the rotation of said unit, means for releasing the latter named locking means upon completion `of rotation of said unit, andineans for temporarily retaining said unitin anormal position ivhen at' rest. ll. In a device 'ofthe character described rotatable separatorn'nit adapted to receive an ash pan, an operating shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit, a leiding arm carried by said shaft and adapted to be so moved upon partial rotation of said rshaftfivith respect tio said unit as to loclr said pan in a givenposi'tion 'with respect to said nnit and to' lock said shaft against further rotation with respect to said unit whereby said unit and shaft are caused to rotate together and said pan is caused to movel lin a circular path.`

i2. In a deviceV of the character described a rotatable separator unit adapted to receive an ash'pan, an operating shaft free to partially'rotate with respect to said unit, a locking arm carri-ed bysaid shaft and adapt ed to 'be so swung' about the' axis of' 'said shaft ripon partial rotation of said shaft ifvith respect to said unit as to lock said pan in a given position vvith' respect to said unit and to lockl said shaft against furtherv partial rotation with respect to said nnit Where by said unit'and shaft are caused to rotate together and sai-d panjis caused to move in a circular path, a" ratchet carried b ysaid sliaft,andv a pawladapted to cooperate' With saidratchet for locking said shaft against rotation in an opposite direction to the rotation of saidnn'it; i

` 13,111 a device of the character described a rotatable separatorunit adapted to relceive anash painfa'n operatino' shaft free to partially'rotate with respect to said 'unita a locking yarm carried by said shaft and adapte'dto be so moved upon the par ral rotation of said shaft with respect toA stid unit as to loclr said pan ina given position ivithf'respect to"said`unit and to lock said shaft againstfurther partial rotation with respect to said unit whereby said unit and shaft are caused to rotate together and said pan is caused to move in a circular path, a ratchet carried by said shaft, a paWl adapted to cooperate With said ratchet for locking said shaft against rotation in an opposite direction to the rotation of said unit, and means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet upon the completion of rotation of said unit whereby said shaft is permitted to be partially rotated in an opposite direction to the rotation of said unit to relieve the engagement of said arm with said pan.

14C. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit adapted to receive an ash pan, said unit comprising converging side Walls, a screen secured to the outer margin of said side Walls, a chute associated With said side Walls, an operating shaft free to partially rotate with respect to said unit, apluralty of pan engaging members car 1iecl lOQ by said shaft and adapted to be moved into engagement with said pan upon partial rotation of said shaft with respect to said unit whereby said unit and shaft are caused to rotate together upon further rotation of said shaft and said pan is caused to move in a circular path, a ratchet carried by said shaft, a pawl adapted to cooperate with said ratchet to lock said shaft against movement in a direction opposite to that of said unit, and means operable upon the completion of rotation of said unit for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet.

15. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit having a screening surface associated therewith and adapted to receive an ash receptacle, the screening surface being relatively wide at one end and tapering in width toward the other end, means for retaining said receptacle in a given position with respect to said unit, and means for rotating said unit whereby the contents of said receptacle are deposited upon the screening surface at its relatively wide end and are caused to travel laterally thereover toward the relatively narrow end thereof, the finer material being permitted to pass through said screening surface whereas the relatively coarse material is directed centrally back into said pan over the relatively narrow portion of said screening surface,

16. In a device of the character described a rotatable separator unit havinga screening surface associated therewith and adapted to receive an ash receptacle containing ashes, said screening surface being relatively wide at one end and tapered in width towards its other end, said unit comprising converging side walls, said wide walls being attached to said screening area substantially throughout the length thereof, an imperforate chute associated with said side walls and said screening surface at its relatively narrow end, means for retaining said ash receptacle in a given position with respect to said unit, and means for rotating said unit and receptacle simultaneously about a given axis whereby the contents of said receptacle are deposited upon said screening area at` its relatively wide end and are caused to travel laterally thereover, the finer particles of said contents being permitted to pass through said screening surface, whereas the relatively large particles thereof are directed upon the surface of said chute by reason of said converging side walls and are thereafter deposited centrally back into said receptacle over said imperforate chute.

17 In a device of the character described,

a rotatable separator unit having a screening surface associated therewith and adapted to receive an ash receptacle, means for rotating said unit, means depending for its operation upon the operation of the first named means for locking said receptacle in a given position with respect to said unit whereby said receptacle is moved bodily with said unit upon rotation of said unit and the contents of said receptacle are deposited upon said screening surface and are caused to move laterally thereover thereby separating the liner particles of said contents from the larger particles thereof, means in the form of converging walls associated with said screening surface for diverting said larger particles Itoward a given plane passing through said unit perpendicularly to the axis thereof and for directing said larger particles from said unit back into said pan.

In testimony whereof, I have afIiXed my signature to this specification.

WILLIAM c. Bnoanwnnn 

